Dual processors and such

[BarrettSteele]

Hi All,

I have recently started using a dual Zeon processor machine with 4GB of RAM. I'm wondering what I need to do to the computer's settings and the software settings to take full advantage of that processing power.

Any suggestions?

Thanks,
Barrett

 

[BarrettSteele]

In addition to the questions above, is there some way to tell nastran to use more of the system memory (RAM), assuming it's available?

Thanks,
b.

 

[nazariosr]

As far as I know, MSC-Nastran is still 32-bit
If you are running MS Win-XP Professional, you can raise the memory limit to 3 Gb by modifying the boot.init file:
go to: start -> settings -> ctrl-panel -> system ->advance
PICK: settings in "start & recovery" area
PICK: edit in "default operating system"
duplicate the line: multi(0)disk(0)rdisk....
and add to the 1st-line: /3GB between: ...Professional" /fastdetect
so it looks like this:
...Professional" /3GB /fastdetect

The order should look like this:
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk....Professional" /3GB /fastdetect
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk....Professional" /fastdetect

So now you can boot either in normal-mode or with 3GB

CAUTION:
some apps & video cards might require "tweaking" of the boot.ini file with /Useva=xxxx option.

About MSC-Nastran itself:
edit the nastran-rc file
and add: memory=xxxMW
where: MW is MegaWords
and value-MW * 4 bytes/word = value MegaBytes

Hope this helps-

 

[lgbav8r]

Does this also work for Windows XP Home? I have 4GB of RAM but am only able to allow NASTRAN to use up to 1GB without failing.

 

[nazariosr]

Igbav8r,
the settings listed above only work with Win-XP Professional and not with the home-edition. An alternative, is to make a dual-boot and use Linux instead of Win-XP. You will still be restricted to 2Gb by MSC-Nastran because of the 32-bit limitation. Sorry.